Social activist G D Aggarwal threatens indefinite fast from June 13

DEHRADUN: Former IITian-turned social activist for the save Ganga campaign, G D Aggarwal, threatened on Sunday to go on an indefinite fast from June 13 if all 18 proposed mini and major hydropower projects on the Ganga and its tributaries like Alaknanda, Bhagirathi and Mandakini in Uttarakhand are not scrapped before that.

Aggarwal, 79-year-old, said that shutting down of these proposed and under-construction hydropower projects will help prevent these rivers from gradually drying up.

He said construction of several hydropower projects on these rivers have already threatened their existence as they are getting choked with construction material released into them.

“If Ganga and its tributaries are passing through such pathetic conditions with each passing day we can not just become silent spectators,” he said.

Aggarwal said he will begin his indefinite fast from June 13 at Matrisadan Ashram in Haridwar if his demand to this effect is not met before that.

Senior member in Matrisadan Ashram Dayanand Sarswati said that Aggarwal chose June 13 as it coincides with two years death anniversary of Swami Nigmanad.

Swami Nigmanand died after an 115-day fast. Nigmanand was suspected to being poisoned by the powerful stone-crushers lobby at Haridwar on April 30, 2011. He had gone on the fast for imposition of a blanket ban on illegal quarrying in Haridwar district.